Alchemy: Turning Lead to Gold

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Hello, my name is David M Lawrenz and I am a senior at Emporia State University. This web page is for GO 336 Mineralogy. I became fascinated with the fad of transmuting lead into gold and decided to create an informational page on minerals and alchemy. Some people have tried to transform minerals into the ones of their choosing. I believe that it illustrates mankind's zealous approach of controlling its environment instead of cooperating with it. And as other ill-advised ventures, it too resulted in failure.

Nicholas Flamel, a Parisian scrivener, purchased a mysterious text around 1350 that he translated; the encrypted text was finally deciphered on April 25, 1382 when he yielded half a pound of gold by transmuting mercury (The Resurgence of Alchemy). Thus is the first recorded account of successful transmutation.
I would ask you to imagine the power and prestige one could obtain if a profitable manner of spinning lead into gold were harnessed. This was a reality for most people of the past. It was believed to be possible that a mysterious transformation of elements was possible and actively practiced. This was such a popular fad that mobs of people gathered to obtain the secret from a suspected alchemist who could have been beaten to death for not complying.
Though most alchemists were unsuccessful at their intentional objectives, their exploits are invaluable in the evolution of chemistry. Serendipity was alchemy’s chief methodology and alchemists discovered scientific explanations through the journey to the fabled fruits of transmutation.
As the transmutation of elements became debunked the focus of alchemy lay in its paralleled attempts to connect man with an intricately connected universe. Unknown to most is that alchemy is not only a chemical science but also a science involving astrology, metallurgy, and spirituality.
Alchemy is not only dealing with metals and inorganics, it may also include organic materials such as plants and herbs. All alchemists seek a universal goal of the Philosophers Stone, which is believed to be a magical substance to cure disease and make all transmutations easier.

Galena

Galena is a lead sulfide mineral, with chemical formula of PbS. Like pyrite and gold, galena has a metallic luster. Galena's hardness is 2.5 on Mohs Hardness Scale and the specific gravity is in the range of 7.4 to 7.6. Galena has a dark grey color and streak, with perfect cubic cleavage or three-directional at ninety degrees. The mineral may display a rare subconchoidal fracture and is considered to have a brittle tenacity.
Galena is from the isometric crystal system which occurs commonly in cubes or in combinations of cubes and octohedrons. Dodecahedraons are also a possible form but they occur rarely. It is found in pegmatites, hydrothermal vents, and replacements in chalks.
Galena is derived from Latin, galena, given to lead ore or the dross from melted lead. It is thought of as the most important lead ore known.